The New York Times’ Kirk Johnson gives some national exposure to the tiny Montana town of Marysville and the potential for another gold rush there. The Canadian company, RX Exploration, bought the Drumlummon Mine, which had been abandoned since 1904, four years ago and has reopened it under the assumption that there may still be untapped gold in the mountains. That potential has divided this town of about 70 residents. From the NYT:
Downhill in the town, which once supported about 5,000 people, 26 bars and various eccentric traditions (Drumlummon’s discoverer, Thomas Cruse, liked to ride through town every morning on a white horse in preparation for his wake-up glass of sherry), there is a debate about whether to love this new turn of events or fear it.
Despite its size, Marysville does attract some tourists in the summer, mostly drawn to its ghost-town status. It will be interesting to see how that changes if miners strike hundreds of millions in gold.